Dozens ticketed for distracted driving during 5 hour period VIDEO

By Danielle Sanzone

Monday, July 15, 2013

LATHAM -- On Sunday evening along Route 787, six state troopers issued 13 cell phone tickets, 13 electronic devices tickets, 14 safety belt tickets, and 36 other traffic violations in a five hour time period. This was part of the increased enforcement of distracted driving, which now causes about one in five crashes in New York state, said spokesman Trooper Mark Cepiel.

In 2012, more than 30,000 tickets were issued in New York for texting while driving which was a 234 percent increase from the prior year. The trend is reflected nationwide, Cepiel continued, and has caused the U.S. Department of Transportation to classify distracted driving as "a dangerous epidemic on America's roadways."

Cepiel stated at a press conference Monday: "In response to this epidemic, a summer campaign began on July 3 and will continue to Sept. 7. Motorists may have already seen an increase in troopers participating in this campaign."

The effort, being conducted both day and night, includes unmarked cars, checkpoints, and educating the public. The unmarked vehicles are equipped with emergency lighting in various colors found in areas of the vehicle like the grill. For motorists worried about being pulled over by anyone other than an actual police officer or trooper, Cepiel recommended driving safely to a well-lit area.

Public education on distracted driving will be found at fairs and other community events, campaign lawn signs, and brochures.

Distracted driving is the act of operating a vehicle while paying attention to something else like a phone call or texting. The driving law has two separate sections for cell phones and electronic devices, including PDAs, laptops, pagers, a two-way messaging device, electronic game, and portable computing device.

"This high profile campaign and our efforts are to reduce distracted driving and distracted driving related crashes, and improve safe highway travel for all motorists not only through the summer but into the future," said Cepiel.

This is a $1 million effort that follows other recent actions including increasing the penalties, like more points or license suspension, for distracted drivers.